Fatal outcome of congenital aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus complicating pregnancy
ABSTRACT Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart defect with abnormal communication between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk with two separate semilunar valves. We present an autopsy case report wherein a young primigravida woman presented with progressive breathlessness and central cyanosis at 21 weeks of gestation. Echocardiography performed in the emergency room revealed elevated right-sided cardiac pressures suggestive of severe pulmonary hypertension; however, no structural cardiac defect was discernible. The patient succumbed to congestive cardiac failure and progressive hypoxia within 5 days of hospitalization. The autopsy revealed a Type I aortopulmonary window (2 cm) with patent ductus arteriosus. The lungs showed changes of severe pulmonary hypertension with superadded bronchopneumonia. This report underscores a rare presentation of APW, undiagnosed until pregnancy, leading to the Eisenmenger syndrome and death.
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo
2021
|
Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2236-19602021000100203 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|